07.31.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Reviews

2 Comments

Plastic Protection, BodyGuardz Review

Plastic Protection, BodyGuardz Review

Conscientious buyers are protective of their electronic gadgets, literally. I recently went on a friendly tirade about how ugly most protective coverings are. The only alternative as of now are from company’s like BodyGuardz who make scratch-proof resistant skins for all your electronic goodies. I asked to review the skin designed for the Nintendo DSlite. I figure the device’s deceivingly simple geometry would provide a better test subject.

0 Designer: BodyGuardz [ Buy it here ]

07.28.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Furniture
Reviews

3 Comments

Paper Furniture, Way Basics Review

Paper Furniture, Way Basics Review

No tools or instructions required and it won’t break me into sweat to assemble it?  Sign me up! Way Basics is a company that produces these module furniture pieces made from, wait for it… paper! zBoards as they call it, is a revolutionary material that is sustainably made and 100% recyclable. It’s super strong yet weights 62% less than particle board. They sent me their basic cube and in less than 10 minutes, I had a new shelving unit all with the magic of 3M tape. I’m serious!

0 Designer: Way Basics [ Buy it here ]

07.28.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Cameras
Reviews
Technology

8 Comments

Going Pro on a Budget, Olympus E-3 Review

Going Pro on a Budget, Olympus E-3 Review

It’s not the newest kid on the block but the Olympus E-3 still produces amazing pictures. The 2008 flagship model faces stiff competition but fans are loyal because of the amazing Zuiko optics, splash-proof magnesium body, and the world’s fastest autofocus. I took the E-3 and the Zuiko 12-60mm SWD lens to the San Diego Zoo for a test run. The results are impressive.

0 Company: Olympus [ Buy it here ]

07.06.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Kitchen
Product Design
Reviews

14 Comments

5 Favorite Spices, Mago5 Spice Rack Review

5 Favorite Spices, Mago5 Spice Rack Review

I’m a vegetarian and sometimes it’s challenging to whip up something quick and tasty. No time to slave over the stove waiting for the flavors of garlic, celery, onion, and carrots to meld. That means all my flavors need to come from spices and there are 5 I use most often when I make my favorite type of food; soups. Enter the Mago5 magnetic spice rack.

0 Designer: OHM for Modenn [ Buy it here ]

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06.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Music
Reviews
Technology

2 Comments

JBL On Stage 400P Speaker Review

JBL On Stage 400P Speaker Review

Really what would we do without music? I’m listening to it everyday. It provides the exact kind of ambient inspiration I need when working. Of course that means having something small yet powerful enough to really make all the money I’ve spent on digital music worth it. Enter the JBL On Stage 400P speaker.

0 Designer: JBL [ Buy it here ]

06.15.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Music
Reviews

3 Comments

GenevaSound Medium Review

GenevaSound Medium Review

Audiophiles are a picky bunch. They know what they like and if a sound system isn’t up to snuff – they pass on it without any chance for reprieve. We’ve only reviewed one other $600+ stereo and that was the B&W Zeppelin. There’s a new challenger, one with more awards and accolades than I can count. The GenevaSound Medium is an audio feast for anyone who wants to hear music the way it was meant to be heard. The design is ultra modern in an approachable sense. Hit the jump for my review.

0 Designer: Genevalab [ Buy it here ]

05.25.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Product Design
Reviews

24 Comments

Ambidextrous Wacom Intuos 4 Review

Ambidextrous Wacom Intuos 4 Review

Once upon of time the Intuos line of drawing tablets from Wacom were designed for creative professionals but with the Intuos 4 line, I would go out on a limb and say it’s inclusive of everyone’s needs. Traditional artists who complained of pressure sensitivity (or lack there-of) will be happy to know it’s twice as sensitive so all the nuances from hand to paper (figuratively) are far more accurate and in real time.

0 Company: Wacom [ Buy it Here ]

05.19.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Accessories & Fashion
Bags
Reviews

10 Comments

Vegan Leather? Matt & Nat Archive Bag Review

Vegan Leather? Matt & Nat Archive Bag Review

In my never ending quest for the perfect laptop bag, I stumbled across a French Canadian company called Matt & Nat who have an entire line of soft goods but it was their Archive bag that caught my eye. It’s all vegan leather which is an oxymoron so just think of it as faux leather – really good faux leather. Hit the jump for me review.

0 Designer: Matt & Nat (Buy It Here)

05.11.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Pets
Reviews

7 Comments

Toys for Senior Dogs, Old Soul Review

Toys for Senior Dogs, Old Soul Review

If you’ve ever perused the toy aisle of a pet store, the options are overwhelming. “One for every occasion” is an understatement. It occurred to me most toys were geared towards puppies and young adults. The seniors, much like their human counterparts, totally get shafted. I have a 9 y.o. dog which by canine standards is more than mature. My search led me to a series of dog toys called Old Soul by a cool little company called Planet Dog.

0 Company: Planet Dog [ Buy It Here ]

04.20.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Product Design
Reviews
Technology

2 Comments

What a Sense of Direction! Orbita Mouse Review

What a Sense of Direction! Orbita Mouse Review

We don’t often review mice here on YD unless it’s something really unique and or special. When Cyber Sport approached us about reviewing the Orbita, a hockey puck shaped mouse, we thought “hey why not!” My last experience with a puck mouse left a bad taste in my mouth (ahem: iMac) so I was prepared to be let down, or was I? Hit the jump!

0 Company: Cyber Sport [ Buy it Here ]

04.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Books
Reviews

5 Comments

Bookworms, From Concept To Consumer

Bookworms, From Concept To Consumer

One of the toughest parts about being a designer is balancing the need to satisfy our creativity with that of the market – ultimately what the consumer wants, the consumer gets right? – Even at the detriment of design and in some cases rationale. Our very own Brian Ling recently dished on the realities of working in design but the end goal is to always satisfy the client and make money off your product.

0 Author: Phil Baker [ Buy It Here ]

04.16.09
Long Tran

Categories:
General Gifts
Office
Reviews

2 Comments

Stay Organized, Bluelounge SpaceStation Review

Stay Organized, Bluelounge SpaceStation Review

You can call it a desktop organizer but it doesn’t hold paperclips, pens, and pencils. It’s all the other stuff we ignore – the cables and wires that make our laptops look like they’re hooked up to Skynet. The Bluelounge SpaceStation is a $79 peripheral that’ll clean up clutter and elevate your laptop while saving a few of those USB ports because it’s hiding a few of its own. Hit the jump for my review.

0 Company: Bluelounge [ Buy it Here ]

04.13.09
Long Tran

Categories:
Living
Product Design
Reviews

16 Comments

Unruly Cables, Bluelounge CableBox Review

Unruly Cables, Bluelounge CableBox Review

Take a look under your desk, behind the entertainment center and by your computer. Chances are you have a rat’s nest. The deliberate twisty-ties on carefully laid out cables when you first set them up have become a tangled mess. How does that happen?!?!

0 Company: Bluelounge [ Buy it Here ]

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